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MBA Student Business – RFvenue

By | July 6, 2011

  • Name of Business: RFvenue; www.rfvenue.com; Blog: http://blog.rfvenue.com/
  • Entrepreneur/contact: Chris Regan, chris@RFvenue.com, 617-500-9096; MBA student
  • Mission: Eliminate static interference and signal dropouts from wireless microphone systems
  • Start date: Began in 2009
  • Where: Ashland, MA, and MassChallenge 2011 Finalist Space downtown Boston
  • Employees: 3
  • Founder’s Previous Business: Crowley and Tripp Microphones (acquired by Shure Microphones 2009)
  • How The Idea Began: Wireless microphones and other A/V systems are increasingly susceptible to interference and signal dropouts as more wireless devices fight for less available RF spectrum.  Millions of schools, houses of worship, concert venues, broadcasters, and the A/V professionals who serve them rely on these wireless audio systems every day.  Our patent-pending antenna systems, sensors, and other wireless hardware allow these critical communication systems to reliably operate and peacefully coexist in today’s crowded RF spectrum.”
  • Initial Idea Preparation:  We interviewed many A/V companies and field tested prototype units to determine key features and functional requirements.
  • Favorite Thing about the Business:  Spectrum issues at the federal level (FCC) and wireless device performance requirements in the real world are often two very different things.  It has been interesting to observe how policy changes have affected the A/V marketplace – for better and for worse.
  • Worst Thing About the Business:  Trying to explain radio wave propagation to people… a basic function of wireless devices like phones, laptops, radios etc that everyone takes for granted and very few people understand.  For mic users, the only thing that matters is quality audio coming out of the PA system, but there is a lot of important physics and RF theory going on in the wireless link.
  • Biggest Challenge: Introducing a new way of doing things into a well established industry is certainly a challenge.  Certain stakeholders are more interested in new approaches and technology than others.  Learning to work within the constraints of the status quo and bring people onboard with what we’re doing takes a lot of education and time.
  • Lesson Learned:  Get your products/services out in front of customers as early and as often as possible to avoid costly mistakes and long development delays.  Get out of your building – stealth mode is for fighter pilots!

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